Premium
An extreme value model for maximum wave heights based on weather types
Author(s) -
Rueda Ana,
Camus Paula,
Méndez Fernando J.,
Tomás Antonio,
Luceño Alberto
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9291
pISSN - 2169-9275
DOI - 10.1002/2015jc010952
Subject(s) - extreme value theory , climatology , generalized extreme value distribution , scale (ratio) , meteorology , environmental science , maxima , extreme weather , geography , climate change , statistics , mathematics , geology , cartography , oceanography , art , performance art , art history
Extreme wave heights are climate‐related events. Therefore, special attention should be given to the large‐scale weather patterns responsible for wave generation in order to properly understand wave climate variability. We propose a classification of weather patterns to statistically downscale daily significant wave height maxima to a local area of interest. The time‐dependent statistical model obtained here is based on the convolution of the stationary extreme value model associated to each weather type. The interdaily dependence is treated by a climate‐related extremal index. The model's ability to reproduce different time scales (daily, seasonal, and interannual) is presented by means of its application to three locations in the North Atlantic: Mayo (Ireland), La Palma Island, and Coruña (Spain).